"Eric Van Lustbader - Sunset Warrior 4 - Beneath an Opal Moon" - читать интересную книгу автора (Lustbader Eric van)

awesomely

intense gaze, but even though he feels fear, Kuo
knows that
he must not show it. He stands ramrod straight,
concentrating
on controlling his breathing. He tries to ignore the
sound of
the hammering of his heart, which feels as if it has
lodged
itself in his windpipe.

"This is for you, Kuo. If you do as I say." A silver
coin has magically appeared between the scarred man's
fingers.

The boy nods, hypnotized by the shining coin. It
represents more wealth than he has had in his entire
life.

"Now listen to me carefully, Kuo. My horse is in the
stable down Green Dolphin Street. At the first stroke
of the hour of the boar you must bring it to the alley
at the side of this place. This one." He points one long
forefinger toward the curtained window. "No one must
see you do this, Kuo. And once here, stay within the
shadows. Wait for me. When I come, there will be
another silver coin for you. Is this clear?"

Kuo nods. "Yes, sir. Quite clear." The secretiveness
of his mission has excited him. How his friends will
envy him.

"No one must know of this, Kuo." The scarred man
takes a quick step toward him. "Not your friends, not
your brothers or sisters, not even your father. No one."

"There is nothing for me to tell," Kuo says, delighted
with himself. "Who would be interested in my
delivering another meal upstairs?"

BENEATH AN OPAL MOON 7

"Not even that!" And the boy jumps at the force
of those terse words, then nods. "No, sir."

The scarred man flicks his thumb and, shot from
the arbalest of his nail, the coin arcs into the air,
shining. Kuo's fingers enclose it and he is gone,
swiftly and silently.